SOCHI, Russia (AFP) - Norwegian cross country skier Marit Bjoergen on Saturday won the women's 30km mass start at the Sochi Olympics, taking her sixth Olympic gold and equalling the record number of medals for a woman.

In a clean sweep for Norway, Bjoergen showed her usual supremacy in the sprint finish coming home in 1hr 11min 05.2sec, 2.6sec ahead of her compatriot Therese Johaug who took silver. Bronze went to another Norwegian, Kristin Stoermer Steira.

Bjoergen has now equalled the record of Soviet speed skater Lidia Skoblikova and Russian cross country skier Lyubov Yegorova in taking six golds at Winter Games, the most by any women athlete.

She has also now equalled the record of 10 medals overall held by cross country skiers Stefania Belmondo of Italy and Raisa Smetanina of the USSR.

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